Rotary Club Of Angel Fire Says “I Know Jo, Do You?”

By Jo Mixon

This weeks featured member is Rotary Club of Angel Fire.

This week we are featuring, the Rotary Club of Angel Fire and today I attended the weekly luncheon meeting at Zeb’s. I spoke with President Russ Coyle and was also privileged to meet Rotary International District 5520 Governor Bobby Wallace. District 5520, to which the Angel Fire Rotary belongs, is made-up of 71 clubs throughout the state of New Mexico and several counties in Texas.

The Rotary Club is an International Non-Profit Service Organization. Governor Wallace asked the Angel Fire club to tell him what they had accomplished this past year. I heard many fund raisers mentioned, including Pancake Breakfasts, a Dance at the Country Club, an Elk Hunt give-away, and this year’s Mardi Gras Parade.

Then I heard them talk about the programs this money is used to support. The Rotary Club of Angel Fire sponsors school programs such as an Art Program, Writing Essay Contests for 8th graders, a Math Program, and the Eagle Nest School Horse Barn Project. Also each year four high school juniors are selected by their principles to be interviewed by the club and then awarded a weeklong trip to a camp called Rotary Youth Leadership Association or RYLA.

I learned that this year’s theme for the District 5520 is “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.” The symbol of this theme is three hearts surrounding the Rotary logo. The first heart represents Family. Rotarians are urged to put family first. The second heart stands for Continuity. They are asked to look inside their lives and as a club to work together toward the good of humanity. And the third heart stands for Change. Each Rotary member is asked to identify what needs to be changed as an individual as well as a club and to have the courage to change it for the better.

I was impressed with the dedication of the members to support their Rotary Club and each other. They strive to have perfect attendance at their meetings. Marles Bradley who is vacationing in Angel Fire told me she is a member of the Norman/Sooner Oklahoma Rotary, but finds meetings to attend in areas all over the world to maintain her attendance record. Others then made the comment they have met like-minded people all over the world. It gives them a feeling of camaraderie knowing they are able to work together to help others.

Before I left, I sat down with the District Governor, and he said, ” Rotary Club of Angel Fire is doing an outstanding job helping the community and the world. District 5520 is very proud of the work they have accomplished.”

Rotary Club of Angel Fire supports and promotes many local as well as national and international projects. To get a better idea of what Rotary International is please go to their website www.rotary.org or if you have an interest in joining the club, members meet every Thursday at noon for lunch at Zebs.